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Prairie View hazing death in question Prairie View A&M student Marvin Jackson, membership chairman for Phi Beta Sigma, wasn’t indicted this past year after the death of a fraternity pledge due to hazing. Donnie Wade II from Dallas had a heart defect that the fraternity claims not to have known about at the time of the initiation. Wade died Oct. 20, 2009, after the pledges participated in exercises before dawn. There was a confession and lack of knowledge on Wade’s existing heart condition, which leads some to question if this is the reasoning behind why the jury did not indict. Christine Perrenot, staff writer
Greek Life shapes up Greek Life was put on a pause in early November after a Texas A&M fraternity member reportedly shot a pet goat. A weeklong moratorium, issued by Ann Goodman, Greek Life director, on social activities for Greek Life began after five different negative reports. Texas A&M has thousands of students in Greek Life that were required at a mandatory meeting in Rudder Auditorium on Nov. 18. Since the meeting there have been no reported complaints. Christine Perrenot, staff writer
nation&world
Emanuel thrown off Chicago ballot CHICAGO — Just days ago, Rahm Emanuel seemed to be steamrolling the entire field of candidates for Chicago mayor. He had millions in the bank, a huge lead in the polls and abundant opportunities to show off his influence, including a meeting with the visiting Chinese president. But on Monday, the former White House chief of staff was waging a desperate bid to keep his campaign alive after an Illinois appeals court kicked him off the ballot for not meeting a residency requirement. The surprise decision throws the race into disarray with less than a month to go. Associated Press
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student life
Student runs for those who can’t Leukemia survivor participates in half marathon Haley Lawson
From dazed to dauntless Osa Okundaye — THE BATTALION
Students face challenges with each new semester
The Battalion Danielle Cordes is a nursing student at the Texas A&M Health Science Center who is an Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia survivor. Not only did she beat her illness, but she recently ran a half-marathon with the Snowdrop Foundation, a cancer organization dedicated to assisting patients and families with childhood cancer. Cordes uses her experience to encourage others, and it allows to relate to patients. “Danielle is a dedicated and hard working young lady,” said Jackie Costello, assistant professor in the College of Nursing. “She is willing to share her experience so that it may help others. I believe her illness as a child and the many hospital visits she endured lead her to nursing.” Cordes has a passion for children. She dealt with many nurses as a child, and this exposed her to the experiences of a pediatric nurse. “Danielle is a natural pediatric nurse, this is most likely because of the many nurses who took care of her during her time of need,” Costello said. Cordes ran the half-marathon with the founder of Snowdrop, Kevin Kline. “I have always been a runner, but I have never actually run a See Survivor on page 8
Joanna Raines The Battalion
T
exas A&M is known for its wildcats and traditions that mark each class year. Underclassmen anticipate the day they can “whoop,” and the day students receive their rings marks the day they will be forever recognized as Aggie alumni. Different challenges mark each year for a student, and each semester marks one step closer to graduation.
Freshman year can be characterized by uncertainty and adjustment. The transition from high school to college is difficult for many students academically. “My biggest challenge was studying and not being a procrastinator, because I never really studied in high school,” said Tess Earley, freshman education major. “I studied more my first semester of college than I ever have.” In addition to handling an increased workload, freshmen must live on their own for the first time. With no curfew and no parents pushing them to attend class, students have to take responsibility for their education. This
change can be difficult for some students, making freshman year one of the most challenging. Sophomore year is when students begin to build confidence. By this point, most have joined organizations and built friendships. With a year under their belts, sophomores have the experience to begin leadership roles on campus. “The biggest change [from freshman to sophomore year] is that you already know your way around and have a group of friends
faculty Freshman and sophomore year I wasn’t too worried about figuring out my life, but once junior year hit I realized I needed to stop playing around and get serious with where my life, and college for that matter, was going.” Moriah Banas, junior communication major
See Mindset on page 10
Special to The Battalion Many college students spend free time practicing ordinary hobbies such as playing recreational sports, studying and watching reality television. Sophomore electrical and computer engineering major Kate Stuckman, however, defies the stereotypical college student’s hobbies by developing a iPod and iPad application, Professor Wordington’s Spellatorium. “My dad and I have been playing this game since I was five years old and you alternate turns trying to spell a word without finishing the word,” Stuckman said. After taking three years of computer science in high school and starting the summer
See iPhone on page 4
See Bilingual on page 8
Courtesy photo
Sophomore electrical and computer engineering major develops word game available on iTunes. and there is more strategy behind it,” Stuckman said. Since the end of this past year, Stuckman’s game received high reviews on the iTunes store from anonymous reviewers giving her constructive insight and praises on the word game. “Spellatorium is professional, it’s polished, it’s innovative and
Christine Perrenot
the artwork is gorgeous and evocative. Most importantly though, it makes you think in a new way, which is the mark of a great puzzle game,” Djflippy, a game reviewer said. Being a creative, intelligent innovator at such a young age
Aggie creates popular iPhone application before her freshman year at Texas A&M University, Stuckman started designing the game as a hobby, challenging herself to create something that she cared about. “I always thought it was fun and I was just hoping other people would like it, too,” Stuckman said. Based on the game she and her father would casually play in the car, the objective of Stuckman’s game is to alternate adding a letter to a word against your opponent to spell a longer word, while at the same time trying to avoid being the last player to add the final letter of the word. “Even people who say they do not like word games will play it, because it is different
Project to use English language for globalization
The Battalion The thought of not being able to speak English while trying to do business with an American sounds impossible. The power of language is undoubtedly obvious in today’s world. Being able to use English as a means of education and globalization is what professor Rafael Lara-Alecio is trying to achieve with Project EILE, English as a Second or Foreign Language. Lara-Alecio is working with the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education and the Costa Rica Multilingual Foundation to get students and teachers involved in Project EILE. The project tests the efficiency of various software types that are designed to teach English as a second language. “My role as a researcher is to advance the field of bilingual education in the state and nation, as well as internationally,” Lara-Alecio said. The project has been so influential that the team has received requests from other countries to try the project. “[Project EILE is] a two year research project sponsored by the Intercontinental Development
technology
Alex Lotz
Professor advances bilingual education
1/24/11 8:33 PM
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THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111.
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Terrorist bombs Moscow airport Biggest airport in capital city site of first attack in Russian heartland in 2011 Nataliya Vasilyeva
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Associated Press MOSCOW — Terrorists struck again in the heart of Russia, with a suicide bomber blowing himself up Monday in Moscow’s busiest airport and turning its international arrivals terminal into a smoky, blood-spattered hall of dismembered bodies, screaming survivors and abandoned suitcases. At least 35 people were killed, including two British travelers. No one claimed responsibility for the blast at Domodedovo Airport that also wounded 180 people, although Islamic militants in the southern Russian region of Chechnya have been blamed for previous attacks in Moscow, including a double suicide bombing on the capital’s subway system in March 2010 that resulted in 40 deaths. The Interfax news agency said the head of the suspected bomber had been found. President Dmitry Medvedev called it a terrorist attack and immediately tightened
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security at Moscow’s two other commercial airports and other key transportation facilities. It was the second time in seven years that Domodedovo was involved in a terrorist attack: In 2004, two female suicide bombers penetrated the lax security there, illegally bought tickets from airport personnel and boarded planes that exploded in flight and killed 90 people. Medvedev canceled plans to travel Tuesday to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he aimed to promote Russia as a profitable investment haven to world business leaders. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered the health minister to send her deputies to hospitals to make sure the injured were getting the medical care they needed. Russians still look to the tough-talking Putin as the leader they trust to guarantee their security, and Monday’s attack was likely to strengthen the position of the security forces that form part of his base.
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PHOENIX — The man accused of carrying out a mass shooting in Tucson pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he tried to kill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides. The plea by Jared Lee Loughner marked his second court appearance since he allegedly shot the congresswoman and 18 others at Giffords’ meet-and-greet event on Jan. 8 outside a grocery store in Tucson. Six people died, including U.S. District Judge John Roll and a 9-year-old girl. Thirteen others were wounded. Loughner, 22, faces federal charges of trying to assassinate Giffords and attempting to murder two of her aides. He will later face state charges dealing with other victims.
Iowa panel backs putting gay marriage ban to vote DES MOINES, Iowa — A key House committee on Monday approved a resolution that would begin the long process of putting a gay marriage ban before voters. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure on a 13-8 vote, sending the measure to the full House for debate. Earlier, a subcommittee of that panel voted 2-1 in favor of the resolution. House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner, says the full House could take up the resolution within a few days, but next week is more likely. Republicans control the House on a 60-40 margin, and top leaders have predicted approval. Senate leaders promise to block the proposal in a chamber where Democrats are clinging to a 26-24 margin.
Giffords intern to attend State of Union WASHINGTON — An intern who cared for Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head and the family of a 9-year-old girl who was the youngest of six people killed in the same shooting will sit with ďŹ rst lady Michelle Obama for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. Staff and wire reports
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texas Fla. lawmakers look to Texas for advice
nation&world Suspect pleads not guilty in deadly Ariz. shooting
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news for you TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers are looking to Texas for advice on how to cut prison costs without appearing to be soft on crime. Texas state Rep. Jerry Madden said Monday at a joint meeting of two Florida Senate committees that one way his state saves money on prisons is to put nonviolent offenders on probation or free them on parole. Florida has abolished parole for most crimes.
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Money Wise Aggies will have an information session on how to budget to spend less on food from 1:50 to 2:50 p.m. Wednesday in the Pavilion, room 236.
Money Wise Aggies will have an information session on how to successfully budget to spend less on food from 1:50 to 2:50 p.m. Wednesday in the Pavilion, room 236.
Money is one of the main causes of marriage problems. Learn some of the money topics couples should discuss before they get married to avoid problems after the wedding. An information session will be from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. Thursday in room 236 of the Pavilion.
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Money Wise Aggies will have an information session from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday in room 236 of the Pavilion to discuss options for funding study abroad tips.
The Texas country band Southern Echoes, based out of College Station, will play at 10 p.m. Saturday at Schotzi’s.
b! thebattalion 01.25.2011 page3
review
Rom-com season starts “No Strings Attached” satisfies as a feel-good romantic comedy
with a BANG
I
f every type of movie has its season, then summer is marked by the dialogue and acting light, action blockbusters whose only real requirements are massive amounts of explosions, car chases and Megan Fox. Black Swan a few Fall is highlighted weeks ago, Portman by intellectual crime has gone through dramas and never award season undeending sci-fi trilogies, feated and looks to where as the winter be the frontrunner and holiday season for next month’s is when the best-ofOscar race. the-best are released; Alexandra After such a family films that make Welch winning perforserious bank and junior business mance from an acindie media darlings major tor, it always begs that wont make any the question “what money at the box ofwill she do next?” fice, but might garner Portman comes out everyone involved a unexpectedly with No Strings new career jolt with more Attached to answer this, helping fame, fortune and success, if also to produce the film in a they can take home that little genre she has barley dipped gold Oscar statue that has become a way to mark relevancy into and really only effectively done so in 2004’s indie favorin the industry. ite Garden State. So, with award season in In No Strings Attached, full swing and Valentine’s Portman takes on the role of Day right around the corner, Emma, an emotionally distant we now enter into a time of doctor who’s not a fan of fluffy, montage filled romantic hugging, cuddling or deep comedies based in Manhattan conversations. Sound like any or L.A. starring the prettiest or every guy you know? She people on the planet; a.k.a. works 80 hour weeks and has chick flick season. Director Ivan Reitman’s No a self proclaimed peanut-like allergy to communication and Strings Attached is the leadoff relationships. hitter for 2011, coming in Kutcher’s character Adam strong this weekend with a on the other hand is happy, No. 1 opening at a solid $20.3 charming, easy-going, sensitive million in box office receipts and loyal; basically a loveable with women making up 70 puppy, just like every other percent of the audience. This role of Kutcher’s career. Adam is the first No. 1 opening for Ashton Kutcher as a main works as a struggling assistant writer on an overproduced character in almost six years. “Glee” esque after school Kutcher’s romantic lead, special that no self respecting Natalie Portman, is coming artist would ever voluntarily be off her most impressive role to date - the tripped out, paraa part of. His famous actor father, Alvin (Kevin Kline), had noid and psychotic ballerina a hit TV show back in the day Nina Sayers. Aside from her awkward acceptance speech af- and is still reaping the benefits ter winning the Golden Globe of his success, most notably for best actress for her role in by beginning to date his own
Courtesy photo
son’s hot, vapid and way too young ex-girlfriend. When Adam walks in on this new, disturbing development in his father’s love life, he goes into a drunken montage tailspin, vowing to call every girl in his phone until one agrees to sleep with him. And so, as happens, the next morning he wakes up naked on Emma’s couch having absolutely no clue how he got there or came to be in his natural state. The weakest point of the film comes in the meeting of Adam and Emma, as it is clumsily explained to the viewer that the two went to camp together 15 years previously, then some how recognized one another at a frat party in college, post puberty, in a different part of the coun-
try, only to again run into each other four years after that at an outdoor L.A. market. But even with these chance rendezvous, Adam still ends up on Emma’s couch and 10 minutes later in her bed. The two decide to begin a “sex friends” relationship, per Emma’s suggestion. Though Adam is clearly smitten with the girl and would like something more; he can’t turn down angst and relationship free sex with a hot and willing female. And so, the two set out to have a physical only “relationship,” and just go and go and go until one of them shows signs of attachment. But, alas, as many of us know, friends-with-benefits without feeling is impossible; one of the main separations and graces between human and
animal. The breakdown ensues when the two awaken to find they had been spooning … fully clothed; the true sign of something more. Emma declares the two need to start hooking up with other people. The funniest part of the movie ensues with Portman playing possibly the most adorable jealous drunk ever to hit the big screen, when Emma realizes the idea was a huge mistake, and that she and Adam might have been meant to be. Portman carries the film, but to Kutcher’s credit he was really only given a shell of a male stock character and not the opportunity to deliver good lines, where as the role of Emma was the only fully developed one in the movie. Kutcher does the best he can
with what Elizabeth Meriwether’s script gives him, and comes off as charming and likeable as ever. And while it may seem like a step back for Portman, the genre seems fresh with her finally involved and that alone helps the plot along. No Strings Attached is nothing new, and is heavily watered down for an R rated comedy with no graphic sex romps or jokes that the like of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Knocked Up get away with at that MPAA rating. The film boils down to a sitcom with foul language, but when taken at face value for what it is, a romantic feel good comedy, which is all No Strings Attached is trying to be, it delivers as a great date movie for this loveis-in-the-air season.
If you are an undergraduate student currently enrolled at Texas A&M University, and are conducting research or have done so in the past, this is an excellent opportunity to get your work published. ~~~ To submit your proposal for consideration, please clearly state your name, department, classification, area of research, your work and/or contribution to the stated research and an abstract of no more than 250 words. Describe your research in the simplest of terms as this journal targets a general audience. ~~~ The deadline to submit your proposal is 31st January 2011. Submit proposals to: ugr@tamu.edu For more informaƟon: hƩp://ugr.tamu.edu
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entertainment&news
page 4 tuesday 1.25.2011
thebattalion cess, family friend Colleen Regester has given Stuckman praise and guidance as she developed the game and is even an avid fan of the game herself. “I was amazed, mostly with the artificial intelligence required for the game to be fun, but I was also still impressed with the graphics and the music; really the whole package,� Regester said. When asked about whether or not she plans on developing more applications, Stuckman insists that she is unsure about her future in the game development industry, but she said she enjoyed the entire process and working with professionals who respect her ideas. “One of my secret fantasies is that I will be sitting in class before it starts and I will look over at someone I don’t know playing my game,� Stuckman said.
iPhone Continued from page 1
has given Stuckman the noticeable passion she has for her major. Stuckman is a young woman succeeding in her electrical and computer engineering major. She adds diversity to the major by joining the Society of Women Engineers, playing the oboe in the Texas A&M concert band and volunteering as a camp counselor at an outreach for the Society of Engineers. With all of her credentials, Stuckman has a train of followers. “There was never really anyone who wasn’t supportive. The game company really supported our ideas, because I put a lot of work into it,� Stuckman said. From the beginning of the entire pro-
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women’s basketball | The No. 5 Aggies travel to Norman to face off with No. 13 Oklahoma Wednesday. A&M will be looking for its 12th straight victory. thebattalion 01.25.2011 page5
sports
World class Nel rewriting record books after arriving from Australia Chandler Smith The Battalion
A
s a kid living in South Africa, diving wasn’t even on the mind of junior Aggie diver Grant Nel — now known as one of the greatest divers to have ever donned the Maroon and White. Little did he know he was destined to receive a myriad of awards including All-American laurels and gold medals in a sport that would eventually, after a simple stroke of pure chance, transform into his greatest passion. Originally a gymnast, Nel suffered a hand injury that
would prevent him from competing at his highest level for some time. His competitive nature, however, wouldn’t let him stand idle and after a brief resting period, he began experimenting in what would prove to be a life-changing endeavor — trying his luck in the precise art of diving. Nel, a decent gymnast in his own right, found he had a surprisingly tremendous upside in his newest gig, thanks in part to his gymnastics background, and fell in love immediately. At the age of 13, Nel and his family moved to Australia where he hit the ground running. Now, fully committed to his newest pursuit, Nel joined one of the most renowned diving academies in Australia, the Melbourne Elite Diving Academy, where he could refine his skills even further. Nel, then emerging as one of Australia’s best young divers, would soon
catch the attention of several college scouts, including former Texas A&Am diving coach Kevin Wright. It was purely by coincidence that Wright was able to recruit Nel, Cam McLean and Jamie Potvin, all of whom now dive for A&M, at the exact same Canadian meet. Nel and McLean, who had become best friends prior to their recruitment, couldn’t believe what had happened. “One of the funny parts about [the recruiting process] was when I was competing for Australia, I met Cam McLean in Brazil and both of us had become best friends since,” Nel said. “We kind of joked around about how cool it would be if we both went to the same university … and literally one year later [on the same day we discussed going to college together] we were here in College Station.” As an Aggie, Nel has impressed from the day he stepped foot on campus onward. As a freshman, he earned All-America honors after placing fourth in the 3-meter springboard at the NCAA championships and won gold at the Australian Open in the 3-meter synchronized diving event. His sophomore year was no different as he was rewarded the prestigious honor of Most Outstanding Diver in the Big 12 Championship after which he received All-American recognition in three events at the proceeding NCAA meet. This year could end up being his greatest yet. Nel is still undefeated in all of his diving matchups this season and
Photos by Paul Mezier — THE BATTALION
Junior diver Grant Nel comes to A&M after being scouted by former coach Kevin Wright. In his three years in Aggieland, Nel holds All-America accolades, A&M records and is looking for an NCAA title. toppled Texas All-American diver Drew Livingston in the “Southwest Plunge” at the start of the fall. More recently, however, Nel broke the school record for the 3-meter springboard event with a total score of 453 after successfully executing a fourand-a-half somersault, one of the most difficult dives in the diving repertoire. Even more impressive is the fact that it was the first time he had ever attempted the daunting dive in live competition. “The front four-and-a-half somersault has [a very high difficulty] and not many do
it although they are starting to [more often] because the higher the difficulty, obviously the more points you can score,” Nel said. “Scoring 93 points is the highest I’ve ever done on a dive and it was a pretty proud moment.” Shortly thereafter, Nel ventured back to Australia to compete in the “Commonwealth Games,” an international meet, where he won first place in the 3-meter springboard. Needless to say, he’s proven he compete with anyone. When asked what his goals are for the rest of the season,
Nel was very clear. “I want to achieve an NCAA title if not more,” he said. “With the backing I have here, I have no excuses. I think it’s very achievable.” Current A&M diving coach Jay Lerew knows Nel’s potential. Lerew, who coached the U.S.A in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, also knows what it’ll take to win it all. “He’s got the ability to do it all [win the NCAA Championship] if he works hard enough,” Lerew said. “If he’s on, he can do it. If he dives as well as he can, he’s got a shot.”
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Groups fight over Wellborn city limits The Battalion Drive far enough south on Wellborn Road and one might encounter the small community of Wellborn. Wellborn, a community known for its rural charm, has been in existence even before the time of College Station. Wellborn is on the fringe of the College Station city limits, and stands directly in the path of its growth. Now a bitter feud has broken out between citizens’ groups fighting to incorporate Wellborn into College Station city limits and make it into its own self-governing community. Jane Cohen, a member of the group Citizens for Wellborn, has been involved in the process of petitioning the College Station City Council to vote for incorporation. “Back in the ’60s, the extraterritorial jurisdiction, ETJ, laws were made by Texas to keep new communities from forming and stopping growth of
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already established cities. Well, Wellborn is not new,” Cohen said. As Wellborn exists right now, it is in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of College Station, which would allow the College Station to annex the community of Wellborn, effectively extending its municipal services, voting privileges and taxing authority over it. “As of right now, there is no zoning authority, no county or state authority over Wellborn. We are trying to preserve this special rural area, but we need to have zoning to protect it,” said Lance Simms, assistant director of planning and development services for the city of College Station. Simms said the proposed city limits for an incorporated Wellborn would make it difficult for the College Station to grow around it in the future. Sewage lines, streets and development would be interrupted. “What they’re proposing, I think, most will say looks gerrymandered. Imagine if someone
said, ‘Hey, we want to incorporate a four-mile-block right on your border that would will have to grow around.’” Wellborn needs the city’s permission to incorporate because it is in College Station’s ETJ. At the rate College Station is growing, at approximately 3 percent every year, the city has started plans for annexation rather than incorporation. After a series of petitions from College Station citizens requesting the chance to vote for incorporation, Cohen said they filed public records requests from the city on Sept. 22 and Dec. 20 of last year. “Mayor Berry told council members not to reply to my e-mails about the petitions because they were going to talk
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to were protected under law as confidential records. “Any notations related to the city council’s self-evaluation would have been made dur-
ing executive session, which is not information that would be released. The AG’s Office is squarely in support of the city in this regard.”
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3bd/2ba Nice house. Rock Prairie and Wellborn area. W/D, garage, backyard. $950/mo. Short-term lease through May/June. Contact Mike 512-887-0318.
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A feud has broken out between citizens’ groups fighting to incorporate Wellborn into College Station city limits and make it into its own community.
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about it in a self-evaluation meeting. So we requested public records of the self-evaluation. We never got anything,” Cohen said. Jay Socol, director of public communications for College Station, said the city filled the request by providing more than 300 pages of documents. “Mrs. Cohen felt like some items were missing. But instead of contacting the city with those concerns, she quietly filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s office. Only when contacted by the AG’s Office were we made aware of that situation and some, not all, additional information was found to be available,” Socol said. Socol said any records of the self-evaluation Cohen referred
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HELP WANTED Artist needs female canvas subjects, body image project. $30/hr. call Alyssa 817-507-6140. Cheddar’s Casual Cafe and Fish Daddy’s on University Drive are now accepting applications for servers and hostesses. Come be a part of our friendly team! Apply in person. EOE. Child Care- FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan.
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Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. COLLEGE STUDENTS! Part Time work. $16 base-appt. Flexible, conditions apply, all ages 17+. Call now! 979-260-4555. Commerce National Bank is seeking Part Time Tellers available to work either a morning shift of 7:15a.m.-1:00p.m. or afternoon shift of 1:00p.m.-6:00p.m. and alternating Saturday mornings. CNB Tellers provide excellent customer service while completing transactions such as cashing checks, receiving deposits and making withdrawals. Must have previous cash handling experience, strong interpersonal and organizational skills. Visit www.commercenb.com for application. Applications & resume may be faxed to 806-792-0976 or emailed to gmills@lubbocknational.com EOE Experienced part-time lawn maintenance workers needed. $7.50/hr. Call Kirk, 979-324-2719. Full-time medical technician for growing allergy practice wanted. 4-year degree and 1-year commitment required. We are looking for an intelligent, positive, friendly person to join our team. We teach skills that are an asset for anyone interested in a career in healthcare and can help a candidate get into medical school. E-mail resume to docmgr@yahoo.com Have you seen the cool handles on board the Spirit shuttle buses? HIGH FIVE ADVERTISING needs students on a part-time basis that have some flexibility with their schedules to sell advertising to the local business community to go on the handles. This is a great way for advertisers to get their messages in front of the students. Please send your resume to Gregg Brogden gregg@h5advertising.com
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ROOMMATES $320/mo. Female roommate needed. One huge room with attached bath and large closet available now in a 2bd/2ba apt. 1030sqft, on bus route 22, pet ok. 832-334-1426. 1 roomate 3 bed 2 bath. $425/mnth+utl. Contact email: baloo1515@yahoo.com 1-2 roommates needed. 4bd/4ba at Waterwood on SW Parkway. W/D, private bath, on bus route. Short or long term leases available. $400/mo. includes utilities, cable/internet. Call 254-721-2716. 1-Female wanted. 4bd/4.5ba. River Oaks Townhome on Holleman. $500/mo. 512-351-2057. 1-male roommate needed at Zone Apartments. 2bd/2ba fully furnished, W/D, bus route. $485/mo +electricity. 512-398-5787. 1-Male roommate needed for 1/2 fully furnished condo. Close to campus, on shuttle route, W/D. No smoking/pets. $450/mo. lmzachary@hotmail.com 281-543-6263. 1-Male roommate needed in 4bd/4ba condo. W/D, on bus route, bike to campus. $350/mo +utilities. Sublease through May or August. 361-816-1224. 2bd/1ba Anderson Place Apartments. W/D, cable/internet, all bills paid. $360/roommate. Male. Busroute. 979-402-2486. Female roommate wanted, $450/mo. plus utilities, Woodbrook Condos. Call 281-795-4110. Female wanted. 3bd/3ba Woodlands. Private bed/bath, fully furnished, $650/mo, new custom paint/carpet. Workout facility, theater, computers, study room, security on premises. 630-536-9001. Male roommate needed for sub-lease. $300/mo. 3bd/2ba house. Contact 210-347-9604. Medium sized bedroom for rent in a 3/2.5 home near 2818 and Texas, on bus route 33, $500(Negotiable) All-Bills-Paid. “Great view of downtown Manhattan!” 979-422-9141.
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The Creator God Leaves Heaven for You! The Jesus Story: The Creator-God of the universe, Jesus Christ, left His home in heaven to become a human being. He lived a perfect life, performed miracles, was betrayed, and wrongfully condemned to death. After being crucified, Jesus' body was placed in a tomb. Three days later, he rose from the dead. After His resurrection, he remained on earth speaking to people for 40 days and then ascended to heaven. Jesus sacrificed himself to make a way for all people to have eternal life in heaven. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -John 8:12. God is reaching out to men and women through His son, Jesus Christ. To find out more about God's relevance in your life, we encourage you to read this article by Josh McDowell: Does Christianity Work? at www.leaderu.com/everystudent/ josh/josh.html.
8=G>HI>6C ;68JAIN Courtesy photo
Striker Oliver Mulamba shoves off the defender from Mizzou.
club sports
We are a group of professors, instructors, lecturers, and administrators united by our common experience that Jesus Christ provides intellectually and spiritually satisfying answers to life’s most important questions. We are available to students, faculty, and staff who might like to discuss such questions with us. For more information about the Christian Faculty network and it's activities, please visit our website: http://christianfaculty.tamu.edu Rusty Burson
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JT Sampson Special to The Battalion It was a season of revenge for the Aggie men’s club soccer team. Texas A&M avenged the previous year’s knock-out loss to defending National Champion Weber State, but ultimately fell at the hands of University of Missouri in the Sweet 16, a team they had beaten in the regional tournament. The Aggies stormed through the 2010 season, winning thefirst nine games before falling to the Texas Longhorns in Austin. During that nine game stretch, A&M outscored the opponents 31-4, with the smallest margin of victory at two goals. Defense was a key factor for the team’s success. The Aggies posted six shutouts during the 10 game regular season, three out of four games during the regional tournament, and backto-back shutouts in the national tournament. Nick Amy, a junior agricultural economics major, was part of the back four that consistently stopped opponents from scoring. He attributed much of the defensive success to cohesion. “Our ability to communicate with each other, even from week one [contributed to our success]. We all knew what kind of player each other was, so we could make up for each other’s mistakes,” Amy said. After tying the opening game in the regional tournament against Lamar University, the Aggies cruised past Lone Star College-Kingwood, Texas State and Missouri to clinch a spot in the national tournament. Up next was Weber State, a school the Aggies looked forward to seeking revenge on after losing to them
in the eighth round of penalty kicks last year. Senior central midfielder Ryne Heath recalled the motivation the team had in preparing for the rematch. “Our hard work had gone into playing that team. Our mentality was, ‘We’re going to be better than we were last year. We’re going to beat that kind of a team,’” Heath said. As a result, A&M shut down defending champion Weber State 2-0, knocking them out of the tournament. Oliver Mulamba, a graduate student who led the team in goals, noticed how the team prepared for this critical match. “We were pretty motivated for it,” Mulamba said. “The guys wanted it, and we made it happen. We worked harder, even when we were leading.” Freshman midfielder Reagan Haisler also attributes the win to focus and calmness. “Everyone was really focused [and] we had a good warm up. It was just business when they blew the starting whistle,” Haisler said. After dispatching Colorado School of the Mines, Missouri stood between A&M and another Elite 8 appearance. The Aggies beat the Tigers in the previous game 2-0, but found themselves unable to find the net in regulation, resulting in a scoreless draw. Missouri made the most of the overtime by knocking in a sudden-death goal, and with that, A&M’s season was over. “It was shocking. It was heartbreaking. We knew we had beaten them before, and we should have beaten them again,” Mulamba said. A&M’s season ended sooner
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than expected, but the soccer team still enjoyed another successful season in the midst of stellar competition. Three Big 12 schools made the nation’s Final Four: Texas, Missouri and national champion University of Colorado. What were some of the factors that contributed to A&M’s success? “We have really good team chemistry. The returning players were strong, and we also had good players come in this year,” Haisler said. Mulamba also observed that his teammates aren’t here on scholarship, and are here “because they love the game … and they’ve got a passion for it.” Many of the team’s players emphasized what differentiates soccer from other sports. “It’s a mental game. It’s a fitness game. It’s not just all about who’s the biggest and who’s the strongest,” Haisler said. “There are no time-outs, no playbooks, [and] it’s demanding” Mulamba said. For those students wishing to get in on the action, A&M will have its annual 3-on-3 outdoor soccer tournament, which is open to any student who wishes to play. Details will soon be announced. “People that watch the game of soccer watch it for 90 minutes. They love it because it’s an art. It is a beautiful game,” Heath said. “People that hate it don’t understand it.”
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NOTE: This ad presents the personal convictions of the individuals listed herein; the ad does not represent or support any view or position of Texas A&M University or any academic department. The ad does represent and acknowledge the diversity of academic contributions toTexas A&M University by men and women of various race, ethnic group, and cultural background who share the Christian faith.
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(if you haven’t)
order your 2011 yearbook today. The 109th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook will chronicle the 2010-2011 school year — traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, greeks, campus organizations, and seniors and graduate students. By credit card go online to http://aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Cost is $64.90, including shipping and sales tax. 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.
Volunteers Needed Be part of an important alcohol consumption research study. The purpose of this study is to examine students’ relationship between drinking behaviors and their use of the safe ride invention, CARPOOL. Eligible participants will answer an online survey on Survey Monkey. The survey will ask questions on demographics, alcohol consumption history and safe ride usage. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Participating in the survey will have no effect on your grades or academic standing. To participate, you may access the survey using the web address below. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/emoryalcohol You will have a chance to enter to win one of four $25 iTunes gift cards whether you participate or not. The study is being conducted by Emory University. Please contact Danny Chan at dchan3@sph.emory.edu for more information.
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page 8 tuesday 1.25.2011
Survivor Continued from page 8
half marathon before. I called Kevin to see if I could run with him on his half marathon, and he of course said yes,” Cordes said. Kline uses half marathons to represent the life of a cancer patient. His goal is to show how children suffer from cancer daily. “He ran for 24 hours on a treadmill and then ran a half marathon from Sugar Land to the steps of Texas Children’s Hospital in the Medical Center,” Cordes said. “It was unbelievable. He said that he wanted to depict somehow the day in the life of a cancer patient, and the half marathon represented the fact that cancer doesn’t just stop at a day. It is something that the children suffered through and it’s day in and day out.” Kline regularly runs to Texas Children’s Hospital and encourages the children who are patients there when he runs by. Cordes joined him on a run to Texas Children’s Hospital and
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was moved by the children who joined them as they ran by. “On Jan. 1, Kevin and I started running from Sugar Land, and we ended at Texas Childrens Hospital,” Cordes said. “It was one of the most motivational and touching things I have done. At the end, I had tears in my eyes watching all the children who had cancer join in as we ran up to Texas Children’s Hospital.” The half-marathon was an achievement for Cordes. She said she appreciates the opportunity to run for those who cannot and she will continue to be an inspiration to everyone who meets her. “I have always wanted to run a half marathon and when Kevin told me about his run, I knew this was something I wanted to do,” Cordes said. “I have not had many complications from the cancer, so I wanted to run this for those who couldn’t. Seeing those kids as we ran in, made everything worthwhile. It was a truly amazing experience.”
Bilingual Continued from page 1 ®
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Bank, the Costa Rica Multilingual Foundation, the Costa Rica and United States Foundation, Centro Cultural Costarricence, the Ministry of Education in Costa Rica, Texas A&M University and Sam Houston State University,” Lara-Alecio said. Enrika Olivarez and Annabelle Nelson, both senior bilingual education majors from the Undergraduate Research Scholars program, help with the project. They administer tests, translate and organize test results. They give surveys to children, parents, principals and teachers to determine who already speaks English and how the environment influences their level of education. The girls have never encountered someone who had a problem participating in the survey and think that people are very open to the idea. “The main purpose of the research is to examine at the elementary and secondary levels the extent to which technology can impact the acquisition of English among Spanish-speaking students. This particular type of project has not been evaluated experimentally in any Latin American country,” LaraAlecio said. Olivarez said that the experience working with Project EILE has been great so far. “We have workshops on how to do research like a master’s student would do,” she said. “We learn how to have successful software interventions and help children speak English with the project,” The project shows the effectiveness of learning English to promote globalization and how valuable the commodity of knowing English is for business. “English is the ‘language of globalization,’” Nelson said. Technology is a huge factor in the Costa Rica project. The World Trade Bank donated laptops for the children of rural schools in Costa Rica to use. This is valuable due to the fact that researchers can test which kind of software is best to use to learn English, and help develop research data faster. Many kids don’t have a computer at home so this opens the children’s minds to the language of technology as well. “There is a great importance and need to not only conduct research in Texas or the United States, but internationally in second language acquisition. Research should never be just for research sake; rather, it should always be conducted in applied settings to improve the education of second language learners with information based in scientific research designs,” LaraAlecio said,
1/24/11 8:34 PM
EDITOR’SNOTE The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of Texas A&M University, The Battalion or its staff.
MAILCALL GUESTCOLUMNS Make your opinion known by submitting Mail Call or guest columns to The Battalion. Mail
call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters
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will be read, but not printed. The Battalion will print only one letter per author per month. No mail call will appear in The Battalion’s print or online editions before it is verified. Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 | mailcall@thebatt.com
voices thebattalion 01.25.2011
Professor buyouts offer minimal
savings tes — Fuen tina is r h C
D
uring the break Texas A&M University officials announced the buyouts of 104 tenured faculty members. In exchange for leaving their positions, the faculty members will receive nine to 18 months compensation in a move the University expects will save more than $15 million a year. The buyouts coincide with faculty buyouts at t.u. as both universities attempt to compensate for state budget cuts. Public state universities absorbed a 5 percent budget cut for the 2010-
Buying out teachers who are likely to leave payroll soon anyway makes it hard to believe $15 million is being saved any year much less multiple years.
N ALIO ATT B E TH
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MAILCALL
From Justin Thompson,
senior aerospace engineering major
11 biennium, and the legislative budIn a Dec. 17 piece in The Houston get board has directed state-supported Chronicle, Doug Slack, a professor agencies and institutions to absorb an of wildlife and fisheries sciences, said additional 2.5 percent cut this year. In he planned to retire at the end of a University wide e-mail on Dec. 2011. Now he will leave in August 14 President Loftin reacted to and receive a year’s pay. By my the additional cut, saying, calculation, that is an extra 75 “Because we were proacpercent of a year’s salary not tive in our planning, the to teach. budget reduction actions On Jan. 3 The Houston implemented to slow our Chronicle reported Thomas spending in the current Woodfin, an associate profesyear, in anticipation of sor of landscape architecture the reductions expected Taylor Wolken and urban planning, had in FY12, have put us in a junior economics been entertaining an offer major from the University of Oklaposition to better manage this reduction. I will not homa. He will be receiving be asking our colleges and checks from A&M and the divisions to make additional cuts, nor University of Oklahoma as he opens will I be asking for across-the-board the semester as the Director of landUniversity-wide staff reductions.” scape architecture at Oklahoma. There remains a potential 10 percent These observations are not meant to cut over the next biennium beginning impugn the professors who diligently in the fall. served us at A&M and by all means In the face of a woeful economy made the right choice under the cirand difficult cuts, I admire A&M’s cumstances. The point is the buyout creativity in cost cutting, but I find seems inherently flawed by lack of the aforementioned $15 million in foresight. Buying out teachers who savings a year to be a dubious estiare likely to leave payroll soon anyway mate at best. makes it hard to believe $15 million is Antonio Cepeda-Benito, dean being saved any year much less mulof faculties and associate provost at tiple years. A&M told The Houston Chronicle: Furthermore, the $15 million figure “Only faculty who have been tendoesn’t appear to factor in the addiured and at their current rank for at tional hiring that will occur to replace least 15 years were eligible.” This these teachers who will cost money. distinction targets older faculty Surely many of these will be adjunct members who, while higherinstructors and in some cases gradupaid, are also closer to retireate students taking a larger role in the ment. This begs the question, classroom. This structural shift toward “for how many years are we lecturers who teach more classes alsaving $15 million?” lows the University to employ fewer
professors without increasing class sizes while saving money. If this was the intent of the buyout, it would have been better served by encouraging younger tenured professors to restructure their contracts and allow the senior tenure track professors to fall off the payroll by attrition. With the increasing need to cut spending here at A&M I am glad that we are being creative and proactive in addressing the budget. I do worry that this buyout is more smoke and mirrors than cost savings, and more disturbingly, it is an attempt to dodge many of the difficult decisions we need to make. As we face a 10 percent reduction in the next two years I hope we can stop gimmicky cuts and inefficient across-the-board cuts and target departments that fill little demand and provide little value. I’ll start. Get rid of the Department of Theater Arts.
thebatt.com Student poll online ◗ Participate in our “Your Voice” poll at thebatt.com under the opinion tab and let us know how you feel about the issues facing Texas A&M today. If you have any ideas where Texas A&M could save money through targeted cuts send them to mailcall@thebatt.com.
I take offense to Mr. Luu’s ludicrous statement that it is somehow racist that Aggies were less enthusiastic about Dr. Davis’ visit than former Vice President Cheney’s. The difference in attitudes is due more to their espoused beliefs than their race. Dr. Davis promotes ideas that few Americans are comfortable with; she is a communist (she was the American Communist Party’s VP candidate in 1980), a supporter of racial warfare (Black Panthers), and, as mentioned in The Battalion article Monday, a supporter of eliminating all prisons, which would release thousands of violent offenders. These views are extreme, to say the least, and, frankly, anti-American. Communism is one of the most destructive and evil ideologies ever conceived by man; is it racist to be less than ecstatic to welcome a known proponent of that system? To further discredit the charge, A&M was thrilled to have President Obama and one of his supporters, General Colin Powell, speak on campus. In fact, they were treated better than former Vice President Cheney; no one interrupted their speeches. Even Dr. Davis was able to speak without interruption. This is hardly indicative of racism; actually, Mr. Luu’s insulting statement shows more of a race-based world view than Aggies’ supposedly cool reception of Dr. Davis. Mr. Luu and those who agree with him need to open their eyes and see beyond skin color.
Join the Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coats. giving.tamu.edu/marooncoats Application deadline: January 27th at 5:00 p.m.
Apply Now!
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®
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Mindset Continued from page 1
www.shimmick.com
Texas A & M Career Fair 1/25 We will be at the Career Fair on 1/25 and will be hosting an info session after the fair. Please stop by our booth and learn about Construction Engineer Internship opportunities in a Heavy Civil Construction career dedicated to: “ Building the People and Projects that Improve America’s Infrastructure”
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so you get to be in a position to help those who aren’t as familiar and be a leader,” said Amber Cassady, sophomore communication major. “You begin to feel more independent and take ownership of your place on campus.” However, it is also the year when important decisions need to be made. Classes become harder, and the students decide which major to pursue. Junior year is when the pressure to plan out your future begins. Students are set in their major, and making the final decisions on a minor. “The toughest year of college is junior year because you begin to take more classes for your major, and they are more difficult,” said Brittani Kelly, senior sport management major. Junior year can be stirring as students realize they are over halfway finished with their undergraduate degree. “The biggest challenge and change for me was figuring out what I am going to do with my life,” said Moriah Banas, junior communication major. “Freshman and sophomore year I
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wasn’t too worried about figuring out my life but once junior year hit I realized I needed to stop playing around and get serious with where my life, and college for that matter, was going.” The senior year of college is exciting and terrifying. Aggie traditions such as Elephant Walk, Boot Line, ring dunk and Ring Dance make senior year unforgettable. However, all these traditions mark the years of being an Aggie student coming to an end. It is during senior year that Aggies can look back and see how much they have changed since they first stepped on campus as a freshman. “The biggest challenge of being a senior is realizing that college is over, and the fear of not being ready for the real world,” Kelly said. With each year students progress through A&M, a maturing process happens. Aggie students transform from overwhelmed freshmen to proud owners of Aggie rings, ready to take on the real world. “The thing that changes the most from being a freshman to a senior is you figure out more of who you really are and the person you want to be in the future,” Kelly said.
House GOP leader says no federal bailout of states WASHINGTON — A top House Republican said Monday that the federal government will not bail out fiscally ailing states and said he opposes a proposal that Congress allow states to declare bankruptcy as a way of handling their growing piles of debt. Though there has been little discussion of Washington bailing out states, some congressional Republicans and conservative groups are suggesting that states be allowed to seek protection in federal bankruptcy court, which they are currently barred from doing. Public employee unions, liberal groups and some lawmakers of both parties oppose the bankruptcy idea. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., told reporters Monday that he believes states already have the tools they need to ease crushing budget deficits since they can cut spending, raise taxes and pressure public employee unions to renegotiate their contracts and pension benefits. As a result, he said, he opposes letting states declare bankruptcy because he said they don’t need that power. Associated Press
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